Father claims Manila cockfight arena guards abducted missing sabungero

The father of one of the missing cockfight enthusiasts on Thursday claimed that the security guards of a Manila cockfight arena were the ones who took his son.

At the Senate hearing of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs,  Jhon Claude Inonog’s father said he was able to call his son before his disappearance around 7:45 p.m. on January 13.

He said Jhon Claude named three security guards who were allegedly putting him and other missing sabungeros in a vehicle.

“Ang sabi po ng anak ko, ‘Pa, nandito na po ako sa Manila arena. Bakit po sinasakay sila kuya James ni ganyan, ni ganyan, ganyan, pati ako isinasakay?’” the father said.

(My son said, "Pa, I am already here at Manila arena. Why this and this and this are taking kuya James and also me?")

Senate committee chairperson Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa encouraged Jhon Claude’s father to name names.

“Medyo na-aano pa po ako sa mga pangalan pero matatandaan ko po ito kasi ngayon lang po ulit pumasok sa isip ko yung conversation namin ng anak ko [I am still unsure about the names but I can remember them because my conversation with my son crossed my mind just now],” he said.

“Sa susunod po promise po ibibigay ko po sa inyo yung tatlong pangalan na naaalala ko na nabanggit niya. Nakuhaan ko po ng picture itong mga security na ito on time noong January 13 ng gabi po,” he added.

(Next time, I promise I will give the three names that my son mentioned. I took a picture of these security guards on the night of January 13)

As advised by Senator Panfilo Lacson, Jhon Claude’s father whispered these names to the top officials of the Philippine National Police who were present in the hearing.

Jhon Claude’ father said that somebody took the phone from his son, which ended their phone call.

He said he immediately went to the Manila cockfight arena as he was alarmed  by the conversation with his son. He confronted some security guards. According to him, these personnel were rude to him until some of his colleagues arrived.

“Nagkaroon po ako ng pagkakataon na makunan ng picture itong mga tao na’to [I had the chance to take a photo of these people],” he said.

Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc. is leasing the Manila cockfight arena and is currently operating and managing the property, its president Angelo Niño Santos said during the hearing.

Despite the invitation, no security personnel of the cockpit arenas attended the Senate hearing. Santos committed that the cockfight arena’s security personnel will attend the next hearing. — BM, GMA News